BACKGROUND: The Sword/Saber is an age old military tradition, that evolved from a functional weapon into an item of uniform dress ornamentation by the start of WWI. This strong tradition continues in many armies to this day as a symbol of strength and power. After Hitler’s rise to power in January 1933 and the reintroduction of conscription in March 1935 a wide variety of new sword and saber designs were introduced to outfit the rapidly growing Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces). This revival in sword/saber production resulted in the numerous blade manufacturers, mainly located in Solingen, to develop a wide variety of ornate designs in an attempt to compete for the lucrative manufacturing contracts which resulted in over one hundred different patterns of the army sword/saber being produced during the Third Reich era. Dress regulations for Officers and senior NCO’s prescribed wear of side arms as a component of particular forms of dress. As a result of the war situation production of the swords and sabers was to be discontinued as per regulations of May 27^TH 1943, although those already issued could still be worn on ceremonial occasions. Additional regulations of December 23^RD 1944 indicated that all officers ranks were to wear a pistol in place of the sword/saber or the dress dagger.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 28 5/8" long, slightly curved, drop forged steel construction, nickel/silver plated blade with narrow, shallow fullers running three quarters of the way up both sides of the blade. The blade is in overall good condition with some light surface spotting and small spots of flaking to the nickel/silver plated finish. The obverse ricasso is well marked with the acid etched manufacturer’s logo. The logo consists of the profile of a medieval style helmet with the initials, WKC indicating manufacture by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co. Waffenfabrik of Solingen-Wald. Of Note: The Weyersberg und Kirschbaum firm was formed in the early 1880's by the amalgamation of the Gebrüder Weyersberg and the W.R. Kirschbaum firms. In the early 1930's the WuK firm underwent an internal structural reorganization and changed their name to WKC, Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co. Waffenfabrik. The blackened leather blade washer is still intact. The saber has die cast alloy langets, cross guard, ferrule, "P", knuckle bow, back-strap and a lion head pommel with a gilt finish. Both the obverse and reverse, rounded tip, shield shaped langets have embossed oak and laurel leave ornamentation flanking embossed, blank, scalloped shields suitable for inscribing a name, initials or an emblem. The integral cross guard features a downward curved, curled tip to one side, and the base of the, "P", knuckle bow to other side. The knuckle bow, ferrule and back-strap all feature embossed, ornamentation that includes, oak and laurel leaves, floral patterns, crossed swords and an Iron Cross. The small, lion’s head pommel features a nicely detailed mane and pronounced snout with the top of the knuckle bow inserted into the lion’s mouth. The tang end has been skilfully hidden in the lion’s mane. The saber has a molded black bakelite grip with a central bulge, and repeating, recessed horizontal grooves with dual, twisted, brass wire wrap flanked at both the top and bottom edges by dual, fine twisted wire wrap. The gilt finish to the hilt fittings is retained about 95% with small spots of chafe wear to the base alloy. The saber comes with its original, black painted, tooled sheet metal construction scabbard. The scabbard retains about 90% of it’s original black paint, with normal usage scrapes and scratches revealing the base metal with light surface spotting. The scabbard has an integral drag to the bottom edge and a sweated on horizontal scabbard band near the top edge with a raised, rectangular, suspension bar to the reverse and a suspension ring to the reverse edge. One of the original two, dome headed throat retaining screws is intact.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $685.00